Kung Fu: The Complete First Season

I purchased this for my husband for Christmas, he was delighted and surprised that I was able to get the whole first season including the premiere

Ok, what you've got here is a beautiful package with three double-sided disks which hold the two-hour (two-part) series pilot, plus fifteen individual episodes--the entire Kung Fu first season. My only complaint is that the top and bottom of the screen are cut out, to make it "wide screen". Crazy. It does make the product look slyer, but by taking away from the show. However, so little is lost, and you soon forget that anything is missing. This is such a classic series, who cares? Kung Fu on DVD! I would list the episodes, but below Corgweyn has done this nicely.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show, allow me to give you a brief but honest rundown: a "western" of sorts, Kung-Fu deals with a Shaolin Priest (Cain) who is outlawed after killing the assassin who killed his old blind master Po (as well as the emperor's nephew, who was responsible.) Being half Chinese, half American, he escapes to the "old west" of America. There he embarks on a series of adventures dealing with racist cowboys, bloodthirsty bounty hunters and Chinese assassins sent to kill or return him (he is worth $10,000 alive and $5,000 dead.) This is a classic and unique series, dealing far more with humanity, Chinese philosophy and wisdom than fighting. Its cult value is hot, and its incredible acting and stories are memorable and striking. A show for those who like something different, where truth and gentleness can win out over lies and crudeness. He is one with nature. Yet he always maintains, "I am just a man."

Highly recommended for all audiences!

... for the foundation that introduced the western world to the martial arts in a massive sweep in the early seventies. It literally set a preperation and an interest that sparked Bruce Lee's work into a phenomenon. The strong value that this series holds is in it's approach of portraying the teachings of the martial arts in a very moral and almost biblical way. The ideals presented within are, and were very much so in the seventies, an inspiration for strengthening and understanding one's own character and for modeling traits that could skillfully resolve conflict in a very real and usable way within oneself. David Carradine followed by Bruce Lee, in a remarkable wake of perfect timing, created an era by being such powerful role models. Role models to the like that no one had ever seen.

David Carradine's portrayal of Kwai Chang Caine was the first inactment of any martial art that most people in the states had ever seen and, to this day, that portrayal remains among the most inspirational for it's embodiment of Eastern ideals.

As for this first season set of DVDs, I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to learn anything about the drive behind learning a martial art, to fans of the series and to anyone wanting to instill humility and moral direction within themselves or their children. Kids may not want to give it a chance, things are a little different today than they were in the seventies.

I have no problem with the widescreen aspect ratio. The framing is very palatable to me and in no way is an excuse to miss out on the content of the show or to miss out on reliving some early inspirations that came out of the series. The quality of the picture and sound is top notch.

A truly inspirational series for any day and age